Fast lane hoggers

[Old Hack]

So why isn't the undertakee fined instead of the undertaker?

Technically, they can be, for careless driving, However, it is tricky to prove they were being careless. It's a debate thats been going on for ages, but how can you prove carelessness, just by staying in a lane? But, slinking into the inside channel and piling through 10-20 mph quicker, is much more definable to a court, and the Police kind of have form for taking the path of least resistance; it's easier to prosecute the one undertaking...

[BlasterBates]

Technically, they can be, for careless driving, However, it is tricky to prove they were being careless. It's a debate thats been going on for ages, but how can you prove carelessness, just by staying in a lane? But, slinking into the inside channel and piling through 10-20 mph quicker, is much more definable to a court, and the Police kind of have form for taking the path of least resistance; it's easier to prosecute the one undertaking...

Obviously everyone thinks when they "undertake" they're doing it safely, and that's why the DT have decided to crack down on it, becuase when you whizz past a slow driver, it isn't. Most drivers undertake to get past a slower driver in the outside lane.

I mean just try whizzing past a traffic cop on the inside lane and see what he does.

[d000hg]

Undertaking someone at 70 mph is careless (i.e. driver at 60 mph in the outside lane).

Kind of you as it is to lay that down as a universal axiom, it's clearly down to interpretation by the cop who sees you do it.


Most undertakes may be to get past a slower driver in moving traffic, but they are probably mostly over the speed limit too - the slow guy is trundling along at 70. If you break the limit to undertake someone, you're never going to make it look like it was safe.

[Old Hack]

Obviously everyone thinks when they "undertake" they're doing it safely, and that's why the DT have decided to crack down on it, becuase when you whizz past a slow driver, it isn't. Most drivers undertake to get past a slower driver in the outside lane.

I mean just try whizzing past a traffic cop on the inside lane and see what he does.

Aren't you just being a little bit obtuse? Of course if you go zomming past a cop, hes going to do something, on the inside or outside. The DT aren't doing anything about it, as it's almost impossible to make it illegal; imagine the scenario: the outside lane comes to a stop, at 40 mph (daily occurence on the M25), do the other 3 inside lanes have to stop?

At what speed makes it dangerous?

On the M6 this morning, I passed on the inside at about 60 mph, as the outside lane had slowed to around 50 mph, but the inside lanes were clear.

Popping in and out of lanes to overtake people, and simply going past due to the flow of traffic are obviously different, but also the same, to a point. There's the issue.

[BlasterBates]

Kind of you as it is to lay that down as a universal axiom, it's clearly down to interpretation by the cop who sees you do it.


Most undertakes may be to get past a slower driver in moving traffic, but they are probably mostly over the speed limit too - the slow guy is trundling along at 70. If you break the limit to undertake someone, you're never going to make it look like it was safe.

There is a difference between temporarily breaking the speed limit for which the measurements aren't actually accurate enough to detect a fineable offence (eg 75 mph minus 5mph tolerance) and careless driving.

I'm not the only one to hold that view:

UK: General Road Rules, Rules and traffic signs in the UK, Every country has their own rules on the road,

I doubt you'll find a traffic policeman that would agree they would tolerate someone undertaking at 70 mph.

[Old Hack]

There is a difference between temporarily breaking the speed limit for which the measurements aren't actually accurate enough to detect a fineable offence (eg 75 mph minus 5mph tolerance) and careless driving.

I'm not the only one to hold that view:

UK: General Road Rules, Rules and traffic signs in the UK, Every country has their own rules on the road,

I doubt you'll find a traffic policeman that would agree they would tolerate someone undertaking at 70 mph.

If the lane to the right was going 65, they would.

[Old Hack]

Highway code 242:

242. Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake.

[BlasterBates]

If the lane to the right was going 65, they would.

No I doubt it. But you're welcome to try. I think you'll get an £80 fine and 3 points.

[Old Hack]

No I doubt it. But you're welcome to try. I think you'll get an £80 fine and 3 points.

Look above you. For if they did, I would contest it.

[BlasterBates]

Look above you. For if they did, I would contest it.

If you're driving at 70 mph you have to keep a safe distance of 70 feet. Per definition the Motorway would be full but not congested. Congestion means you all have to drive slowly,bumper to bumper ro at the most 20 or 30 mph.

I think you wouldn't have much luck contesting your fine.